Defying Predictable Cliches in Travel Photography
Facebook June 30, 2019
By David Samuel Robbins It sometimes seems that everyone has been everywhere now. Angkor. Petra. Cuba. Machu Picchu. Varanasi. Marrakech. Bagan. Lhasa. Omo. Armies of internationally mobile photographers, accessing the same once-remote ”exotic” locations, and taking the same photos as each other. A vast library of tired cliches. How can anyone create a unique image in a place that has already been exhaustively photographed? Many people assume that smarter cameras, sharper lenses and deeper post-processing skills are the answer. They aren’t. Some things just don’t come quickly. Any aspiring sculptor, musician, carpenter or mechanic understands that a deep command of their craft will only come from a very serious commitment and a long-term journey. At it’s best, the evolution of your work reflects your evolution as a human being. The images you create cannot be any more intelligent, deeply perceptive, empathetic, compassionate or reflective than you are. As John Szarkowsky said, a photograph is both a window - and a mirror. |
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